Aston Villa FC secure another lucrative sponsorhip deal

Aston Villa Football Club's finances have come under some scrutiny this summer balance sheet received a welcome boost yesterday with the announcement of a new partnership with car giant Fiat.

Villa who’s wage bill increased alarmingly, by 42%, to £71m, giving a wages-to-turnover figure of 85% whilst making a reported £46m loss before tax (according to the last set of accounts which cover the 2008-09 season) have worked tirelessly over the summer to bring in a number of high profile sponsorship deals.

The Midland club recently secured a lucrative shirt sponsorship deal with FxPro replacing the charity Acorns, and have followed it up with another lucrative deal. The four-year deal with the Italian car manufacturer begins this week, ahead of Aston Villa's Premier League and Europa League campaigns, and will see the club handed a range of Fiat vehicles as well as the sponsorship cash.

Aston Villa's owner, Randy Lerner, and his corporate team, have been building on several years of growth and success at Aston Villa after the club finished in the top six of the Premier League in each of the last three seasons - something no other club outside Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal has managed.

Fiat has a strong pedigree in English soccer. As well as backing Aston Villa, the car company sponsors the England national team and Wembley stadium.